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SB 5749: Concerning paperwork reduction in order to improve the availability of mental health services to protect children and families

Status Summary

Passed out of the Senate. Passed out of the House Early Learning & Human Services Committee. Passed out of House Appropriations and referred to Rules on Apr 4. The bill was pulled in Rules, but did not come up for a floor vote before Opposite House cutoff.

Legislative Session

2017

Status

Failed

Sponsor

SB 5749 states that by October 1, 2017 the DSHS must provide a single set of regulations for providers of mental health, substance use disorder, and co-occurring disorder treatments. Regulations must be clear and not unduly burdensome on providers. Also, when conducting audits relating to the provision of behavioral health services, the DSHS must: rely on a sampling methodology consistent with standards of other licensing and accrediting bodies in the review of records; treat organizations with multiple locations as a single entity; share audit results with BHOs to assist with their review process and take steps to coordinate and combine audit activities when appropriate; coordinate audit functions with the Department of Health to combine audit activities into a single site visit and eliminate redundancies; not require duplicative information to be included in clinical files except where required by federal law; and ensure audits involving manualized evidence such as Wraparound with Intensive Services or research-based programs are conducted by personnel familiar with the program model, to the extent practicable, and in a manner consistent with documentation requirements of the program. The DSHS must also immediately review its rules, policies, and procedures related to casework documentation and paperwork requirements for social workers serving children. The review must identify areas where duplicative or inefficient requirements can be eliminated or streamlined and must be complete by November 1, 2017. The DSHS must take immediate steps to amend department rules according to the results of the review. This bill differs with HB 1819 in that it does not include language around “Focusing on quality, outcomes, and safety above process”

Effect of Amendment in Senate Committee: Extends time for DSHS to complete rule making for a single set of rules relating to mental health, substance use disorders, and co-occurring disorders by four months until February 1, 2018. Limits DSHS obligation to review casework documentation and paperwork requirements for social workers who provide services to children to social workers working within the Children's Administration.

As amended by Ways and Means, the bill includes a subject to appropriations language.

Amendments in House Appropriations:

(1) Requires the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to review documentation requirements for behavioral health services and identify areas in which duplicative or inefficient requirements can be eliminated or streamlined for providers. (2) Changes the date by which the DSHS must provide a single set of regulations for mental health, substance use disorder, and cooccurring treatment services from October 1, 2017, to April 1, 2018. (3) Exempts mental health providers from duplicative state documentation requirements when the provider is following documentation requirements of an evidence-based, research-based, or state-mandated program that provides adequate protection for patient safety. (4) Limits the DSHS review of casework documentation and paperwork requirements to social service specialists and direct service staff within the Children's Administration. (5) Provides for consistent agency designations in the event that either SHB 1388 or SSB 5259, relating to transferring responsibilities for behavioral health services from the Department of Social and Health Services to the Health Care Authority and the Department of Health, is enacted. (6) Amends language in the findings and intent section.

Reorganizes material related to the DSHS review of requirements for the provision of behavioral health services.As amended by Senate Ways and Means, the bill includes a subject to appropriations language.